What is the State Bird of Florida? (And Why?)

Florida is the third most populous US state and 22nd largest in landmass. It’s mostly known for its magnificent beaches, Florida’s state animal is the Florida panther, but what is the state bird?

Florida has chosen the northern mockingbird (Mimus Polyglottos) as its state bird. Florida made it its state bird on April 23, 1927. In the United States, people are very fond of this long-legged, medium-sized bird with a long tail. The bird tends to settle in the southern states during the winter, but will sometimes simply settle in a state like Florida.

Florida’s state bird, the northern robin

Why is the northern mockingbird the state bird of Florida?

Florida has chosen birds that sing for the public. The tiny bird has served the state’s residents well, as it feeds on insects that would otherwise harass residents. As MSN points out, every bug it eats won’t make it onto your patio. Florida’s official bird serves the state in many ways.

When did the northern mockingbird become Florida’s state bird?

The legislature passed a resolution on April 23, 1927, naming the bird the official state bird of Florida. Unanimous Senate Resolution No. 3 declared the bird the official state bird.

What does Florida’s state bird look like?

Northern mockingbird females are smaller than their male counterparts. Both sexes resemble each other, with a gray chest and upper body, and a contrasting but complementary light gray or white in the belly area. These birds have a brown beak base and a black body.

Although long and with a wide wingspan, these birds weigh very little. They usually grow between 1.4 oz and 2.0 oz. Northern mockingbirds are 8 to 11 inches long from head to tail and have a wingspan of 12 to 15 inches.

Keeping mockingbirds as pets is illegal in the United States because captivity can significantly shorten their lifespan. In the wild, a mockingbird can live to be 80 years old, but in captivity they only live a quarter of that. Title 16, United States Code, Sections 703 and 707a make it a crime to “at any time or in any way pursue, hunt, take, capture, kill, attempt to capture, capture or kill, possess … any migratory bird … …or any part, nest or egg of any such bird. “

Close-up of a perched northern robin

How are these birds behaving?

People misunderstood the mockingbird’s song. Often, when surveyed, people think the bird will only copy other people’s songs, but in reality, only ten percent of their repertoire is. While mockingbirds can imitate the songs of other birds, clever birds can also compose original music. Since the average mockingbird plays more than 200 melodies, that means about 20 of its repertoire comes from other birds, and another 180, the bird wrote, so to speak. These studious birds also learn about other animals, including dogs, and human music, including instruments like the piano. The bird can also make city noises like sirens and gates. Mockingjay decides whether to make a song or not based on how many times the sound is repeated. If, after the imitation, the sound echoed through the bird, they would write an original melody based on it.

Unlike many birds that sing in the early morning, mockingbirds keep company with night owls. Mockingbirds sing at night. In spring, the birds like to give concerts under the moonlight.

You won’t hear the same mix from Mockingbird either. The birds string together a different playlist each day. This medley may only contain some or all of its repertoire. If you can’t see a mockingbird in action, you might mistake its song for another bird. Since each bird creates its own song, every bird’s medley is different.

Robin Dating. They meet potential mates through singing. They date several different birds until they meet the right one, and the birds choose a mate. You can think of it like marriage, as this animal stays in a lifelong partnership and is monogamous. Together they build nests out of twigs, grass, twigs and leaves. Once they have built their homes, the birds reproduce. They raise their young to follow the same pattern.

northern robin singing at night

Do northern mockingbirds form communities?

Robins view their nests as their own and are very territorial. They protect their nests by swooping down to attack or at least drive away any predators. These birds view humans and their pets as predators. Mockingbirds will attack animals much larger than themselves, including dogs and cats. As long as you stay away from their nests, you’ll be fine. Just enjoy their songs from a distance. A mockingbird remembers the people and animals it sees. Don’t piss anyone off, or you’ll be an enemy for life.

While some of these birds live in Florida full-time, others frequent Mexico or Canada. Mockingbirds usually prefer beaches or marine environments, but in Florida you can also find them happily living in inland environments. These birds also live in the UK, another natural habitat for them. Look for them in open areas of urban or rural environments. You won’t find them in the forest. Northern mockingbirds like to live in the same habitat year-round, so they don’t fly farther south if the area stays warm.

What do northern mockingbirds eat?

Mockingbirds like beetles, ants, wasps, and grasshoppers in northern Florida. Although the bird lives in many states, its diet varies by location and season. These birds also eat berries, and they also love loose suet if you want to introduce it to your yard. Florida mockingbirds don’t like hanging suet, but they will burrow into loose suet.

Northern robin on a suet bird feeder

florida bird controversy

While you might not expect controversy over the existing state bird, in Florida, lawmakers introduced three different bills in October 2021 to change the state bird. Lawmakers want school children to vote and choose on the matter. Some lawmakers wanted a bird native to Florida, while others wanted a showy bird.